Power In Prayer

THE CENTRAL CONNECTION

October 2017

"We are an organization of churches that is committed to the mission of Christ to multiply disciple-making churches through evangelism, leadership training, and connection with other like-minded churches."

From The Director

"God Can Do Whatever He Wants and We Love It"

Isn't once enough? Seriously! The year was 1994 and it was a beautiful Sunday morning in West Concord, MN. When I was at church making last minute preparations on my message, I received a phone call from my wife (Karen) that no one wants to hear. In a

panic Karen said, "Pat, come home now. Scott's (our 14 year old son) in trouble!" I ran across the street to the parsonage wondering what I was going to find. After I leaped nearly two flights of steps to his upstairs bedroom, what I saw was something I will never forget. My son was lying lifeless in the arms of his mother and there was blood everywhere. My heart just stopped. Read More Here

. . .Yes, it is cancer again in our home. Now what? We fight. We sacrifice. We surrender. We put our total trust in God that whatever He does in our lives in the coming months, it is for the best. WE BELIEVE.

Will you join with us in this journey of trust in God's power by continuing to pray for a miracle?

Pat and Karen Phinney
CB North Central Regional Director

We've had many wonderful replies from some of CB North Central's more experienced pastors on the subject of passing on advice/knowledge gained from experience in ministry. We'd like to continue to share these words of advice and encouragement over the next few months. Please enjoy these heartfelt words that have come from pastors throughout the CB North Central region.

In my years of pastoral ministry (36), there are some things I've learned or continue to learn. Hopefully, these are ideas that any local church pastor can identify with in life and ministry.

1. Focus on God, not your critics.

Criticism is inevitable, but if you focus on your critics, you will start trying to please them and it will derail your ministry. You'll never make everyone happy!

Don't miss this good advice from Pastor David. Read tips 2 thru 9 here.

-Pastor David Johnson

Storden Baptist Church, Storden, MN

Y ears ago, I was a young pastor of 27-years-old in my first church. I attended pastors' meetings and thought that the other pastors looked and acted old and stuffy and dry. Now I'm the pastor who looks old and acts stuffy and dry. It all happened so fast.

Read More and enjoy some humor from Pastor Wade.

-Pastor Wade Duroe

Crossroads Church, Chippewa Falls, WI

Please watch for more advice from CB North Central pastors next month.

#GettingToKnowYou

We hope that you enjoy getting to know a little more about the pastors in our region. Each of them plays a vital role in their family, their church, their community, the CB North Central Region, and most importantly in furthering the Kingdom of God. Please enjoy learning more about Pastor Vernon Risner this month. Read more about him and his family here.

#GodsWordSharpens, #LivingInEternity, #SocialMedia&Missions

What is the Lord God doing at Oakridge Community Church? He is working among His people, causing us to trust Him more fully, love Him more deeply, obey Him more completely and proclaim Him more boldly. By His Spirit using His Word and His providential work, He is moving us closer to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. Read more about what's going on at Oakridge Community Church and how they used Social Media to learn more about their missionary families.

Pastor Jim Odens

Oakridge Community Church, Stillwater, MN

CBAmerica Chaplaincy

"Making An Impact In Hawaii "

"We started a Blessing Jar in our new Chapel program - Impact Chapel. Each blessing can be written down and stuffed in the jar. On Thanksgiving we will empty the jar and rejoice at what God has done." Read More

-by Chaplain Brian Hargis, US Army,

Schofield Barracks, Oahu

Rev. Andy Meverden

Director of Chaplaincy
CBAmerica.org
3686 Stagecoach Rd, Unit F
Longmont, CO 80504

[email protected]

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma

Earthquake in Mexico

Fires in the Western United States

Our hearts break for those who are experiencing such great loss of life and property in the face of multiple catastrophic events in our sphere of influence. The number and scope of the current needs are so great that you and your congregation may feel paralyzed, not knowing what to do.

CB North Central's/CBAmerica's strategy in light of these needs is:

Encouraging individuals and congregations to consider initially giving to those organizations best prepared for early relief efforts. Our early response agency of choice would be SAMARITAN'S PURSE. Other options would include the Salvation Army, Red Cross and the North American Mission Board (Southern Baptist).

To help meet long-term recovery efforts we are encouraging individuals and churches to give to CBAmerica's ACTS Fund (Acts of Compassion in Tragic Situations). Along with WorldVenture, we are partnering with Crossover Bible Fellowship of Houston and the Houston Church Planting Network. They are an anchor relief church and organization that are receiving teams from churches wanting to help. If your church would like so send a team, submit a form ( access Team form).

We continue to communicate with our CBNorthwest Region in regard to the fires that are devastating the area. Additionally, we will look to Missions Door for disaster relief efforts in the Caribbean and Southern Mexico.

Samaritan's Purse

Donate to CBAmerica's ACTS Fund

for Disaster Relief

Ten Ways to Bring Joy to Your Pastor

"So how can you bring joy to your pastor? My list of ten is based on the interactions I have with thousands of pastors every year. Some of the affirmations are letters. Many of them have no monetary cost. All of them will be greatly appreciated." Read More

- ThomRainer.com

Beware of Broken Wolves

" Wolves often look like sheep, so to spot a wolf we can often look at what values and qualities are esteemed by a particular religious community. . . . there is a particularly nasty breed that often goes unnoticed, a type that we might call the "Broken Wolf."" Read More

- by Joe Carter, ChurchLeaders.com

5 Toxic Small Group Ministry Moves

"Switching to a different small group model, system or strategy...again. There are several main models or systems and versions of each. Whether you call it idea fatigue or shiny object syndrome,switching models can be toxic." Read More

-by Mark Howell, ChurchLeaders.com

5 Difficult Pastors to Succeed

"'That's not the way Pastor Bob would do it.' There are several succession situations for pastors that are often more difficult than others, I know. I hear about them almost every day." Read More about five of the most common . . .

-ThomRainer.com

Please Pray for the Following Churches in Transition:

Senior Pastor

Delavan Baptist Church - Delavan, IL

Moline Baptist Church, Moline, MI

Oak Park Community - Blaine, MN

Faithbridge Church - Park Rapids, MN

CB North Central Cluster Groups

Central Minnesota

Monday, September 11, 10am to Noon

Meeting at River of Life Church, Hastings, MN

Steve Schoenwald, River of Life Church, Hastings, MN

651-437-3965 [email protected]

Southwest Minnesota

Tuesday, October 17, 11am - 1 PM

Meeting at First Baptist Church, Jackson, MN

Please come to encourage your fellow pastors and be encouraged. A simple agenda is planned with what I believe have some profound implications for our self, our church, our region, our nation and our world. Please come with ideas on how we can better develop prayer and fasting in our own life as well as the church both locally and globally.

Walt Moser, First Baptist Church, Luverne, MN

507-283-4091 [email protected]

Wisconsin

Thursday, November 2, at noon

Meeting at Perkins, 2025 Highland Ave, Eau Claire, WI

Wade Duroe, Crossroads Church, Chippewa Falls, WI

715-723-1054 [email protected]

Eldon Carlson, Bloomer Baptist, Bloomer, WI

715-568-1979 [email protected]

Illinois

To Be Announced

Art Georges, Living Hope Community Church, Bartonville, IL

309-633-0028 [email protected]

Michigan

Next meeting To Be Announced

Our most recent Cluster meeting took place at Cornerstone University on Sep 19. We gathered for fellowship and prayer, and at noon we shared a lunch together. We joined with pastors from approximately 40 other

churches for the Fall West Michigan Leaders' Forum which also took place at the University campus.

It was a great time of connecting with the new pastor at Bethel, Ken Pierpont, as well as sharing burdens and highlights with each other. We had about 11 pastors in attendance.

All for Him,

Nate Wagner

Sparta Baptist Church, Sparta, MI

616-887-8813

For more information on a Cluster Group in your area please contact the CBNC office.

SERVICES & INFORMATION PROVIDED BY CB NORTH CENTRAL

Below you will find a partial list of the many services provided by CB North Central,

click on any image for more information.